Epstein Suicide Note Released: Federal Judge Unseals Document Found by Cellmate

The Epstein suicide note, a document that has remained under court seal for several years, has now been made public following a ruling by a federal judge. The release brings renewed attention to one of the most talked-about deaths in recent American history and adds a new layer to the ongoing debate surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s final days.

A Long-Hidden Document Comes to Light

Judge Kenneth M. Karas of the Federal District Court in White Plains, New York, ordered the note to be unsealed on Wednesday. His decision came after The New York Times filed a petition last Thursday seeking access to the document. The Times had also published an article describing how the note was reportedly discovered and the chain of events that kept it hidden from public view.

The note itself was placed on the court docket on Wednesday evening. While its contents are now available, The New York Times has not independently confirmed that Epstein actually wrote it.

What the Note Says

The handwritten message, reportedly scribbled on a piece of yellow legal-pad paper, opens with a frustrated outburst about being investigated for months without any wrongdoing being uncovered. It describes the situation as resulting in charges that stretched back many years.

Other lines from the note carry a darker, more resigned tone. The writer mentions that being able to choose the moment of one’s farewell is something to appreciate. Another part pushes back sarcastically against the idea of breaking down in tears. The closing words, written with emphasis, declare the situation simply not enjoyable and not worth continuing.

The Cellmate Who Found It

Nicholas Tartaglione, a former police officer from Briarcliff Manor, New York, shared a cell with Epstein at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan. He was awaiting trial at the time on charges connected to a quadruple homicide case, for which he was later convicted in 2023 and sentenced to four consecutive life terms. Tartaglione continues to maintain his innocence and has filed an appeal.

According to Tartaglione, he came across the note in July 2019, shortly after Epstein was found unconscious in their cell with cloth wrapped around his neck. Epstein survived that initial incident but was discovered dead just weeks later at age 66. He told The Times during recent calls from a California prison that the note was tucked inside a graphic novel. He says he opened the book to read and stumbled directly upon it.

Familiar Phrases Echo Through Past Writings

Although authentication remains pending, certain elements of the note align with phrases Epstein had used elsewhere. Expressions like “bust out cryin” and “No fun” have appeared in emails attributed to him and even in another handwritten note discovered in his cell after his death.

Missing From the Justice Department Files

What makes the note’s release more striking is that it was not part of the millions of pages of Epstein-related records the Justice Department recently made public under a new law. The Times searched through those documents and could not locate the note. A Justice Department spokeswoman confirmed the agency had never come across it.

However, a two-page chronology was found that explained how the note became tangled up in Tartaglione’s legal battles. According to that document, his lawyers had verified the note’s authenticity, though the chronology did not detail the method used.

A Tangled Legal Path

Tartaglione explained that he handed the note to his attorneys because he feared it could become important if Epstein later accused him of trying to harm him. After the July incident, Epstein had initially claimed that Tartaglione attacked him, only to walk back those statements later, telling jail staff he had no problems with his cellmate.

The note eventually became entangled in a dispute between Tartaglione’s various lawyers. To preserve attorney-client privilege, related filings were sealed. According to a letter that was also released on Wednesday, the original note was finally handed to the court in May 2021, almost two years after Epstein’s death. Before that, his lawyers had reportedly kept only a photograph of it on a phone.

Why the Court Agreed to Release It

Before lifting the seal, Judge Karas asked involved parties for their views on the petition by The Times. The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, which had prosecuted Tartaglione, said it did not oppose the release. Prosecutors noted that Tartaglione had spoken publicly about the note voluntarily and that the original sealing had been intended for his protection. They added that there is significant public interest in understanding the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death.

Inga Parsons, one of Tartaglione’s appellate attorneys, also confirmed that the defense had no objection to making the note public.

Lingering Questions Around Epstein’s Death

The New York City medical examiner officially ruled Epstein’s death a suicide. Yet the years since have been filled with speculation, fueled by reports of major security failures at the federal jail where he died. Theories questioning whether his death was truly self-inflicted continue to circulate widely.

The release of this note adds new material to an already complex story, but it also raises fresh questions rather than settling old ones.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.